Vaginal syringe



April 21, 1970 E. H. POLLOCK 3,507,280

VAGINAL SYRINGE Fi led Aug. 18, 1967 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 l I l INVENTOR EDWIN H. POLLOCK ATTORNEY April 21, 1970 E. H.POLL OCK YAGINAL SYRINGE l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1967 INVENTOR EDWIN I"!v POLLOCK ATTORNEY April 21, 1970 E. H. PO LLOCK VAGINAL SYRINGE She ets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1967 INVENTOR EDWIN H. POLLOCK BY J ATTORNEY United States Patent O "ice 3,507,280 VAGINAL SYRINGE Edwin H. Pollock, 859 Azalea Drive, Rockville, Md. 20850 Filed Aug. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 661,653 Int. Cl. A61m 1/00, 3/00 US. Cl. 128-232 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to syringes and more particularly to a new and improved vaginal syringe particularly adapted for use as a disposable unit with a premedication filled squeeze bottle container.

Vaginal syringes are well known in the prior art. The vaginal canal, in its normal, relaxed state, is characterized by longitudinal folds along the length thereof. Heretofore, it has been common in prior art syringes of this type to utilize the force of fluid pressure, generated through the syringe, to distend the vaginal canal and open the folds thereof for cleaning by the syringing fluid. A primary disadvantage inherent in this system of syringing is that fluid pressure, or overpressure, of a force sufiicient to achieve the required distention will tend to drive or wash a biological material through the cervix into the uterine cavity, thereby spreading or complicating infections which may be present, contrary to the purpose and intent of the syringing action.

This is particularly important during pregnancy, since the cervix tends, at that time, to be more open and therefore more susceptible to the admission of fluids from the vagina. For these reasons, most doctors recommend against syringing with present art devices during pregnancy.

Prior art syringes have also, in general, been intended to multiple use applications and have therefore been, in themselves, sources of contamination or recontamination due to improper sterilization of the syringing apparatus between uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a novel vaginal syringe which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing means associated therewith to distend the walls of the vaginal canal and thereby open the folds thereof for syringing action without reliance on fluid pressure generated through the syringe. Such means comprise an outwardly tapering conical vagina-distending member associated with the input end of a vaginal tube which, when inserted into the vaginal canal, radially expands the vaginal walls mechanically, thereby exposing the folds therein to action by the syringing fluid.

This invention also provides a novel means associated with the vagina-distending member for cooperating anatomically with the vaginal walls to seal fluid in the vaginal canal during the syringing operation. Such means comprises circumferential ridges coaxially disposed around the frusto-conical surface of the expanding member, which ridges cooperate with natural ridges located on the vaginal 3,507,280 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 walls and with the vaginal walls themselves to prevent leakage of fluid therebetween.

The invention also provides means to preclude contamination or re-contamination of the vagina caused by improper sterilization of the syringe apparatus by providing a device particularly suited for single use disposable syringes. Such means are provided by furnishing a premedication filled squeeze bottle and syringe tubevagina-distension member structure which may be inexpensively manufactured to enable economical single use application.

These objects and other advantages of the invention may be more readily understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals throughout the figures thereof indicate like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an elevational view in section of a syringe constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view, partly broken away, of the device of FIGURE 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an element of the syringe of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an anatomical illustration of the female pelvic area in longitudinal elevation;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing a vaginal canal in the normal reposed condition;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a device in accordance with the invention inserted in operational condition in the vaginal canal; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the configuration of the vaginal canal distended by insertion of the device as in FIGURE 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, a syringe unit, shown generally at 10, is illustrated in its packaged condition. It should be understood that, although the invention is described as specifically applied to premedication filled disposable units hereinafter, the precepts of the invention are applicable to any type of vaginal syringe, such, for example, as the multiple use squeeze bulb, or the fountain syringes currently in use. The syringe 10 comprises a vaginal tube 12 having a discharge opening 14 in one end thereof and an inlet opening 16 in the other end thereof. Although the tube 12 is illustrated with a simple rounded end and single opening 14 thereon, it should be understood that multiple opening cruciform tips, as are known in the prior art, may also be furnished at the end of the tube 12 within the scope of the invention. A frustoconical vagina-distending member 18 is formed on the end of the tube 12 proximate the opening 16, preferably formed as an integral part of the tube.

The tube 12 and member 18 may be formed of any material suitable for the purpose, but are preferably fabricated of a moldable inert plastic material, such for example, as low pressure polyethylene.

The member 18 is provided, on the tapered surfaces thereof, with a plurality of peripheral transverse ridges 20 which are designed to engage the vaginal walls and corresponding ridges occurring on the walls of the vaginal canal as will be described below. The ridges, in conjunction with the taper and dimensions of the member 18, should preferably be within the range of the pelvic dimensions of the average female so that, upon proper insertion of the device in the vagina, the member 18' distends the vaginal canal to such a degree as to expose the internal surfaces thereof to fluid injected through the vaginal tube 12. The member 18, simultaneously, should provide a seal between the ridges 20 coincident with the vaginal orifice to prevent escape of fluid thereby. The length of the tube 12 should also be such that, with the above-described relationship between the ridges 20 and the vaginal orifice, the discharge opening 14 is disposed proximate the area of the cervix as will be described in greater detail below.

It has been found that a vaginal tube and vagina-distending member having approximately the following dimensions is suitable for the purposes of this invention and properly fits the range of pelvic dimensions of the average female in accordance with the above requirements- Although the above dimensions provide particular utility, they may vary as much as 50% without substantially affecting the operation of the syringe.

The member 18 is provided on the interior surface thereof with a dome-shaped recess 22 which communicates with a threaded receptacle 24. A diaphragm valve 25 is seated in the receptacle 24 to control flow therethrough in such a manner as to preclude backflow of fluid from the tube 12. Any standard check valve can be used for this purpose; however, it has been found advantageous to use a flexible diaphragm valve having a slit 27 therein as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 3. Flapper valves are also useful in this connection.

A medicament containing squeeze bottle 26, preferably formed of a soft moldable plastic material, such, for example, as high pressure polyethylene, and configured to conform to the general dimensions of the aforedescribed member 18, is threadedly connected to the member 18 through the threaded receptacle 24 to sandwich the valve 25 therebetween.

A cap 26 is slidably received on the end of the tube 12 to seal discharge opening 14 prior to use of the apparatus. The cap 26 may be suitably sealed to the tube 12 through means common in the art, such, for example, as by means of a plastic ring shrink-fitted over the .juncture between the cap and tube or the like.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the longitudinal, anatomical view of the female pelvis area in its natural, reposed condition, is illustrated. The vaginal canal 28 terminates, at its external end, in labia minora 30 which form a vestibule surrounding the vaginal orifice. The vaginal canal 28 comprises the anterior and posterior vaginal walls which terminate in the cervix posteriorly.

In FIGURE 5, a sectional view of the vaginal canal 28 is illustrated in its relaxed condtion as in FIGURE 2. The canal 28 is characterized in this condition in that its walls are ordinarily in contact and the usual sectional configuration is that of an H, the transverse limb 38 being formed between the top and bottom surfaces thereof and the lateral limbs being formed by folds 40, in shape somewhat convex towards the median line. In the condition depicted in FIGURE 5, the walls of the vaginal canal are substantially in contact; however, they are shown slightly separate in the figure for purposes of clarity of illustration.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, in its normal longitudinal configuration, the vaginal canal 28 is constricted at its entrance proximate the labia minora 30, dilated in the middle, and narrowed as it approaches the posterior vaginal wall 32. The vaginal canal 28 is further structured with longitudinal ridges on its anterior and posterior surfaces known as columns of the vagina. From these columns, numerous transverse ridges or rugae extend outwardly on either side.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, a unit 10 is shown inserted in the vaginal canal 28 in position for use. As can be seen, the member 18 distends the walls of the canal 28 which, due to their inherent resiliency, assume a configuration closely conforming to the member 18 in section, as can best be seen in FIGURE 7.

The ridges 20 deform the vaginal wall 28 and conform with the aforedescribed rugae to anatomically cooperate with the vaginal canal 28 and provide a seal proximate the vaginal orifice to prevent escape of fluid thereby. As can also be best seen by FIGURE 7, the walls of the vaginal canal 28 are distended to such a degree that the folds 40 (FIGURE 4) are opened and the interior surface of the vaginal canal is exposed for the action of fluid thereon. As was set forth above, the primary constriction in the vaginal canal is proximate the vestibule formed by the labia minora 20 and the distension of the canal is thereby provided by the member 18 at that point. The remaining portion of the vaginal canal 28, not actually engaged mechanically by the member 18, is also distended due to the normal tendency of the walls of the canal to follow distension of the portion near the vaginal orifice. Due to the thin wall proximate the major diameter end of the member 18 provided by the recess 22 (FIGURE 1), the member is somewhat flexible at that point so that minor variations in cross-sectional shape in the area of the labia minora may be compensated by distortion of the member.

With the unit 10' inserted as shown in FIGURE 6, the contents of the bottle 24 are then injected into the posterior portion of the canal 28 through the vaginal tube 12, thereby flushing out the vagina at a pressure considerably reduced over that required for prior art syringes.

Due to the particularly good sealing effected by the member 18, it is possible to accomplish syringing with the user in the standing position, as opposed to a reclining position as is required in prior art devices having less effective sealing. Such a capability provides additional benefits in that, in syringing in the standing position, there is much less tendency for the syringing fluid to migrate into the uterine cavity than if the body is in a reclining position.

The contents of the bottle 24 may be of any suitable composition and may contain deodorants, antiseptics, or other agents as is known in the art and it has been found that a bottle 24, sized to contain approximately 4 to 5 ounces of fluid, is preferable and adequate for proper syringing.

The unit 10 is retained in place for a suitable length of time to allow the agents in the syringing fluid to react, at which point the unit 10 is removed and the fluid contained in the canal 28 discharged under the normal reflex action of the canal.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vaginal syringe comprising:

a vaginal tube having openings in each end thereof;

a substantially frusto-conical relatively rigid vaginal distending member fixed to one end of said tube, the minor diameter end of said member being coincident with and the major diameter end of said memher being disposed in spaced relation to said one end of said tube; said diameters being of sufficient magnitude to distend and expose the internal surfaces of the vagina when inserted in the vagina canal of an average adult female; and

a plurality of transversely disposed ridges on the periphery of the frusto-conical surface of said member.

2. A syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein said member is approximately 2 inches in length with a minor diameter of /2 inch and a major diameter of 2 /2 inches.

3. A syringe in accordance with claim 2 wherein said ridges comprise, in section, arcuate segments of a circle approximately of an inch in diameter.

4. A syringe in accordance with claim 2 wherein said vaginal tube is approximately 2 inches in length.

5. A syringe in accordance with claim 3 wherein said tube is approximately 2 inches in length.

6. A syringe in accordance with claim 3 wherein said ridges are approximately .2 of an inch in longitudinal width.

7. A syringe in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least said member is formed of plastic material having substantially the same rigidity as low pressure polyethylene.

8. A syringe in accordance with claim 7 wherein said member is provided with a recess in the major diameter end thereof, the configuration of said recess being such that it defines, in conjunction with the tapered surface of said member, a wall of reduced thickness proximate the major diameter end thereof to provide resilient distortion thereof.

9. A syringe in accordance with claim 8 wherein said recess terminates in an internally threaded opening communicative with the openings in said tube and wherein a squeeze bottle is threadably received in said threaded opening.

10. A syringe in accordance with claim 9 wherein a check valve means is disposed between said squeeze bottle and said tube.

11. A method of cleaning the vaginal canal comprising the steps of:

filling a squeeze bottle connected to the syringe of claim 1 with fluid;

inserting said syringe in the vaginal canal to such a degree as to distend the walls thereof through mechanical engagement thereof by said member and squeezing said bottle to eject fluid through said tube to provide cleaning of the vaginal canal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 381,622 4/1888 Haeley 128-241 856,093 6/1907 Ong 128-246 2,552,469 5/1951 Wahlbeck 128-232 2,881,760 4/1959 McGiveran et al 128-251 FOREIGN PATENTS 125 1899 Great Britain. 347,081 4/ 1931 Great Britain.

GEORGE J, MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128-242, 245, 247 

